AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His eyes shoot to mine. “You were lying there, so limp. I thought…” he takes a moment, choking up. “There was so much blood.”
His eyes briefly move to my forehead. I take my hand from his and lift it to my head, feeling a bandage. “They said I had a concussion. I guess I hit my head.”
I reach out and cup his cheek in my hand. I smile when he leans into it, kissing my palm.
“I thought I lost you.”
“You said that.”
“Don’t make light of it, Belle.”
“I’m not.” I lower my hand and lace my fingers with his. “But I’m here now. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Do you mean that?”
“Yes, Mitch. I mean that. I’m sorry I scared you, but I’m fine, or I will be. I’m sure I won’t be thinking I’m fine when these pain meds wear off.”
The corner of his mouth lifts. “I love you, Rachel.”
I search his eyes, stunned.
Love. He said he loved me.
“You don’t have to say anything right now, but I couldn’t spend another minute without you knowing. I’m all in. I want it all. I want to marry you. I want to have kids and a house. I want the chaos, but have it beourchaos.”
“I want that too,” I whisper.
“Do you mean that?”
“Yes, Mitch, I mean that. I love you, too.”
“Oh, thank God.” He lowers his head to our joined hands. “Thank you, thank you,” he mutters over and over.
I don’t know if he’s talking to me but seeing him like this breaks my heart. I can’t imagine what he’s gone through during the time we were apart. I know I would be a wreck if the roles had been reversed, and he was the one in this bed.
He lifts his head, relief showing on his face. “I love you, Rachel Bennett.”
“I love you, too, Mitch Brandt.”
“Marry me.”
“What?” My voice cracks as it echoes through the room.
“I mean it. Marry me. Be my wife. Let me wake up next to you every day for the rest of our lives. I don’t want to be without you, Rachel. I know this is fast and we’re both running in the aftermath of what happened, but if this has shown me anything, it’s that I can’t live without you.”
I’m speechless as I look at him.
I don’t know what’s crazier, Mitch asking me to marry him, or the fact I’m considering it.
“Say something, Belle. You’re killing me.”
My heart leaps into my throat with what I’m going to say, but I know with all my heart it’s the right answer.
“Yes.”
EPILOGUE
MITCH
